The Virgin Mother ✔

Revelation

Days ago, I felt so much tension when daddy and Lawrence Pendleton met.

Narito kami ni Angelo sa villa ngayon. Daddy wants to relax and spend time with us. Nakahiligan na rin niyang magluto lalo na at madalas ay nandito lang siya sa bahay, lalabas para manuod ng basketball games o maglaro ng golf. You know, usual daddy hobbies.

Angelo's out in the garden playing with the dogs. I'm letting him play with them, bukas kasi ay Monday ay may pasok na naman siya sa school.

I'm also glad about Angelo's performance in school. He's so independent and jolly. Ang kinatatakot ko lang.. eh dahil sa kabaitan eh baka maabuso na.

Dad served a plate of baked buttered chicken while I'm reading a book on the sun lounger beside the pool.

He sat beside me. "What's that you're reading?" I see what he's doing.. he's striking up a conversation with me. Kahit na kagabi pa kami dumating dito ni Angelo ay di ko siya gaanong pinapansin.

"Just a.. book full of insights, I think?" He nodded.

"Do you.. want to know why.. or how did me and--"

"Yes. I badly want to know." Agad kong nilapag sa tabi ko at tumingin kay daddy. I know what he wants to say.

"Won't you be.. mad at me if.. kasi baka sabihin mong nagsisikreto ako sayo."

"No, dad. I just.. want to know all." I looked intently at him, waiting for a word from his mouth.

He sighed. "Back when we were still teenagers.. Loren and I were bestfriends. Just on that level, no more no less. I was just protective at her.. kasi parang nakababatang kapatid ko na siya. Let's say.. kinaibigan ko rin siya dahil may kaibigan siyang nagustuhan ko?" He chuckled a bit.

"Ever since.. Lawrence Pendleton is a playboy, taking advantage of girls with his looks and charm. Someone who wants to maximize his ages of youth, a man who wants to explore his limits. Almost everyone knows that. Then there was a time that Lawrence confessed his feelings to Loren. I can't say it's genuine, I can't say it's not. Anyway, hinarang ko pa rin siya. Naisip ko.. why would I allow my little sister be with a boy who doesn't deserve her?"

Okay.. I get it. Maybe Ivo got his looks from his father. They're more like brothers.. When I met Lawrence for the first time in person, I even thought he's just in his early 30s!

"But the poor thing is.. Loren, likes Lawrence back. So in the end, they became a couple. Napansin kong mas nagkakasama na sila ni Lawrence. Not that I'm jealous, but it's kind of like a brother-sister thing.. lalo na at close kami. They went on for a year, then one night, Loren called me.. that she gave herself to Lawrence not just on their anniversary but.. yeah. They're couples kaya wala na rin akong magagawa doon." Nagkibit-balikat si daddy. I don't know.. but what does it feel like to be good friends with my dad? I bet he'll always be really protective. He's a gentleman. Maybe.. a complete opposite of.. Ivo's father.

"That night when Loren called she was crying. Why? Nakita lang naman kasi niyang may kahalikan si Lawrence na ibang babae at sa university library pa namin. Our observations went on for a week, and heck we confirmed that the dirty playboy is always a playboy. There's this flirty-looking girl who rode in his car then we didn't know what happened next. Loren and I witnessed it, right in front of our eyes. We even hid behind a narra tree back then. After graduation, wala na kaming communication ni Loren dahil umuwi siya ng probinsya."

I sighed. Wow, ganoon pala ang buhay nila noon. Ivo's father is a heartbreaker and Ivo's not because he was raised by a gentle loving mother.

"My parents, your lolo and lola, we lived in London for a couple of years. I became a part-time professor while your lolo and I helped each other in making plans and building up the company. There, I met.. Marievic, your mother."